Sources confirm Armando Lozano to New York Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls are set to make a second addition to their roster this offseason.

EOS has learned the Red Bulls have signed central defender Armando Lozano, pending the finalization of paperwork and visa approval.El Dia Cordoba first reported the details of his new deal over the weekend. According to the Spanish publication, Lozano signed a two-year pact with the club, rescinding his current deal with Cordoba to make the move happen.

Lozano, 29, started his career with hometown team Motril before heading to Malaga where he featured heavily for the team’s first and second team. He spent a season with La Liga side Levante and another with their B-side earning minutes as a spot starter. From there, Lozano moved to Cartegena in the third division, helping them towards promotion as a regular starter.

While his team moved up, Lozano decided to stay in the third division, signing with Barcelona’s B-side. He spent three seasons with the Blaugrana B-team, only able to earn starting minutes in his final year. An inauspicious move to Liga MX with Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz led him to Cordoba, where he ended the 12/13 season a starter.

That hasn’t helped him this season as the Motril native featured in all of eight matches since September.

Lozano enters a far better playing landscape in New York. After the departure of Markus Holgersson, the Red Bulls have been sorely missing depth at centerback. While U.S. Men’s National Team U-20 player Matt Miazga continues his development, Lozano will likely be the first choice off the bench for aged centerbacks Jamison Olave (32) and Ibrahim Sekagya (33).

Thanks to the coming multi-front season, which will include U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League and regular season play, New York will offer Lozano plenty of opportunities to feature prominently for the team. Olave stayed in relative health last year, but was preserved by the coaching staff in key moments. He began showing signs of wear at the tale end of his RSL career, forcing the team to sit their star Colombian defender in games featuring artificial turf. That twist may earn the Spanish defender a chance at major minutes during the regular campaign as well as cup play.